Development of newer calcium channel antagonists: therapeutic potential of efonidipine in preventing electrical remodelling during atrial fibrillation

Calcium Signaling and Cardiac Arrhythmias

There has been a significant progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which calcium (Ca2+) ions mediate various types of cardiac arrhythmias. A growing list of inherited gene defects can cause potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia syndromes, including catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, congenital long QT syndrome, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In addition, acquired deficits of multiple Ca2+-handling proteins can contribute to the pathogenesis of arrhythmias in patients with various types of heart disease. In this review article, we will first review the key role of Ca2+ in normal cardiac function-in particular, excitation-contraction coupling and normal electric rhythms. The functional involvement of Ca2+ in distinct arrhythmia mechanisms will be discussed, followed by various inherited arrhythmia syndromes caused by mutations in Ca2+-handling proteins. Finally, we will discuss how changes in the expression of regulation of Ca2+ channels and transporters can cause acquired arrhythmias, and how these mechanisms might be targeted for therapeutic purposes.

Ca2+ channel inhibitor NNC 55-0396 inhibits voltage-dependent K+ channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

We demonstrated the inhibitory effect of NNC 55-0396, a T-type Ca(2+) channel inhibitor, on voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V)) channels in freshly isolated rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. NNC 55-0396 decreased the amplitude of K(V) currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of 0.080 μM and a Hill coefficient of 0.76.NNC 55-0396 did not affect steady-state activation and inactivation curves, indicating that the compound does not affect the voltage sensitivity of K(V) channel gating. Both the K(V) currents and the inhibitory effect of NNC 55-0396 on K(V) channels were not altered by depletion of extracellular Ca(2+) or intracellular ATP, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of NNC 55-0396 is independent of Ca(2+)-channel activity and phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades. From these results, we concluded that NNC 55-0396 dosedependently inhibits K(V) currents, independently of Ca(2+)-channel activity and intracellular signaling cascades.

Effect of cadmium on the extracellular Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ in the gill and small intestine of goldfish Carassius auratus

In this study, the toxic effect of cadmium on extracellular Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) in the gill and small intestine of goldfish Carassius auratus was determined with the technique of ion chromatograph. Two-way ANOVA indicated that the two factors (Cd(2+) treatment and time) and the interaction factor had significant effect on the level of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) in the small intestine and gill. 1.0 mg/L Cd(2+) significantly increased Ca(2+) level in the small intestine, but Ca(2+) level in the gill was significantly decreased by 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L Cd(2+) at 24, 48, and 72 h. Na(+) and K(+) level in the small intestine and gill was increased by 1.0 mg/L Cd(2+) at three time points, but increased by 5.0 mg/L Cd(2+) at a certain different time. In addition, Na(+) level was significantly decreased by 5.0 mg/L Cd(2+) at 24 or 48 h in the small intestine and gill. The results indicated that Cd(2+) played an important role in regulating the level of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) in the small intestine and gill of goldfish C. auratus. A method was constructed to investigate the extracellular Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+) in the tissues of gold fish with ion chromatography.